Howard said: "I wasn't surprised Gerrard was not in their side from the start, that's what they do.

"He (Benitez) must have felt the players he did use were good enough to win the game.

"It does give you a boost to see the Gerrard's name is not in the starting line-up, he's their best player and he was not starting.

"I do understand why they do it, but it has backfired on them and they are out of the FA Cup. They are well behind in the league and they must produce it in the Champions League now because that is all they have got left.

"It has certainly backfired on them, they have lost the chance of a final in a competition that has seen so many Premier League sides knocked out."